Animal Shelters Need Adoptive Families

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UBUD, BALI - NOVEMBER 26: A visitor looks after a kitten at Villa Kitty on November 26, 2013 in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Villa Kitty established on March 17, 2011 initiated by Australian living in Bali Elizabeth Henzell, to serve as shelter to abandoned kittens and cats in Bali. (Photo by Putu Sayoga/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Molly the Staffordshire Bull terrier plays plays with a ball at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as she awaits a possible new owner on August 2, 2010 in London, England. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rehome or return to their owners around 5,000 animals a year, however many dogs have to be put down because they are unsuitable to rehome despite being physically healthy. Last year the animal shelter had to put 2815 dogs to sleep. 321 of those because they were banned breeds, 482 for medical reasons, 81 due to behavioral problems and 1931 because of their temperament and aggressive nature which pose a risk to the public. 43 per cent of the dogs that come in to the dog's home are Staffordshire Bull terriers. Known as "Staffies" these dogs and similar crossbreeds are increasingly popular within gang culture as a status symbol, however, once abandoned they are very difficult to rehome due to their aggressive temperament. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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TOKYO - JANUARY 20: A cat lies at Nekorobi cat cafe on January 20, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Cat cafes, where people can spend time with their favorite cat for about 10 US dollars an hour, are now getting more popular with people living in urban areas. The regular customers are mainly in their 20's to 30's and seaking healing by cats, or people who cannot afford to have pets full time. Some visiters come to the cat cafe three times a week. (Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
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Animal Shelters Need Adoptive Families

By FOX 47 News. CREATED Jun 8, 2014

Cage after cage is filled with animals at the Mid-Michigan Adopt-A-Thon. All have one thing in common, they need a home.
But for Larry, the waiting ends today.

"We came to look for a cat," said Megan Briggs.

"And we found one that we liked," her husband Marc Briggs followed.

The six-year old cat is joining the Briggs family, who already has two pets they rescued.

"The kids are very excited," Marc Briggs added, referring to the couple's three children.

It's the end result organizers of the Adopt-A-Thon are hoping every animal will have.

But this is the busiest time of year for shelters and many are facing overcrowding.

"In Michigan there's thousands and thousands and thousands of animals that are being destroyed just because there's not enough homes for them," said Sarah Vicary, Director of the Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue.

It's a problem adoption programs like this are trying to help.
The collaborative event features available pets from five different organizations

"There is no reason that they shouldn't be able to find a new loving home if everybody comes together and adopts," added Vicary who helps run the event.

There are over 100 animals at the adoption event each of the three days it runs, but those are only some of the pets waiting for homes. The Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue alone has over 300 cats in foster care.

Even if you can't adopt, there are others ways to help since the majority of rescues are run by volunteers.

"Rescues can't survive without everybody pulling together and making it happen," Vicary said. "That means we need donations, we need volunteers, we want people to get involved."

For adoptive families like the Briggs, they know helping out is a win-win situation.

"We feel it's important to be able to give a home to animals that don't have a home and give our children the chance to give love to an animal," Marc Briggs added.

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